Arizona weekly enterprise., 1887-04-09

oC oiNA RiNs
 When she came back across the glis- tening sands. where tine low tide had left is deposit Of feathery seaweed and delicately-tjnged shells, Mir. Eslerheld sat sketching by the old boat.
 "I have changed my mind" said Alice, walking up to him. There is space for your easel. as well as mine, in the lanterG-rOom,
 May we share the studio together?n said the young man, joyfully. Thanks "a thousand times! and l will try to take up as little room as possible.
 So there were two artists now in the round room of the lighthouse.
 Alice grew to ike her fellow-artist, and she treated him with soft, gracious dignity that became her well.
 Every body seems to admire your pictures so much. said she. with sigh. Il wish l could paint as you do.
 its all in practice" said MT. Ester field, intent on bringing out the scarlet touches in a cluster of autumn leaves in his foreground.
 How nice it would be" said Alice, ..if Mrs. Esteriield could come here and look at your work.
 Don't mention such thing, pray" said the artist. laughing. 'Ive the greatest respect for her, oi course, aud consideration, and all that sort of thing; but between ourselves, Miss Alice, we're a great deal more peaceful here without her than with Der. She can't help scolding and fretting and finding fault, he added apologetically. as Alice looked reproachfully at him. Its her nature. suppose"
 '.Poor fellow!' thought Alice. But he ought not to speak 50 of his wifer'
 She began to wonder what sort Of person Mrs. Esteriield was as to looks Was she pretty? Was she young?
 Yet Alice was too proud to ask ques- tions of anybody. and she was delighted when there came an order for painted conch-shel from French lady at che hotel, who desired it for souvenir.
 T will. take it there myself," she thought, and shall see Mir, Esterfeld's wife. And then-then 1 think 1 had better accept Cousin Prideaux's offer to Plymouth to teach her little girls
 For Alice had just begun to be con- scious that she was becoming too inter- estod in Gordon Esterfeld. He was so | young. so handsome, so enthusiastic in | art-and even the fact of that great trial of his existence. the crippled wife, lent an additional glamor to his surround | ings.
 They lady was charmed with the painted conch-shell.
 Il shall show it 10 Madame Ester field." she said. "She is critic-she knows all of art
 And Alice timidiy foAowed her into a shaded room. whe.u. wraSped in shawIs, pailid, mldl!e-aged persSna ge lay on a sofa
 "It's pretty well,' she, said, disccn- tentedly, surveying the shell ''lts crude-all these things are crude. What can a young girl knnw-of true -art-teol- ing? Nobody understands it-not even Gordon. Where's the young woman? Let her come in. Let her come aronnd by the window, where l can see her. The tables were turned. Alice had come to sec Mrs. Estertield, and Mrs. Esterfield was determined to see. .aer. Flushing deeply, she obeyed The vel 1 lowfaced little lady took a longstarc at | her.
 Well" said she, "you are pretty. He said so, but l didn't believe him. Sit down. Let me talk 10 you.
 No, thanks. cried Alice, feeling as if all her veins were filled with fire. Il -I want to go back home now; grand father will be wanting me-"
 And she made her exit with more vehemence than ceremony
 "Country-bred!' said Mrs. Esteriield. ! lifting her tow-colored eyebrows. That i is plain enough! But prettyr'
 ''How pity him!-oh, how sorry I feel for hinr' Alice kept repeating to herself as she hurried home. | Perhaps, also, she pitied herself lit tie. for the tears kept trickling down her cheeks like the soft, slow drops of sum- mer rain.
 Alice! Why, what is the matter?"
 It was Gordon Esterfield's voice. He was close behind her. in tue narrow Cornish lane, where the path was car | peted with yellow leaves. | She tried desperately to recover her self
 The matter? Nothing! Why should anything be the mattera" retorted she.
 You are crying"
 ''I am not crying! Why should l be crying?"
 AhCt, WILL you not tell me! DeaE Alice, I love you! was coming this very day to ask you to be my wife" he : pleaded.
 Sha turned on him with crimsoned cheeks and flashing eyes.
 .'How dare yoH thus insult me?" she exclaimed. Go to your poor deluded wifer'
 ''Alce!" he cried, ''what on earth are you talking about? l haven't got any wife. never had wife. And never shall have, unless you will say yes to me"
 ''3ut Mrs. Esterfieid in the hotel?''
 "She's my aunt," he explained. You don't mean to say that you thought she was--my wife?
 The comic dismay of his tone, the resulsion Of feeling in Alice Aylmer's own heart were too much for her. She | burst out laughing then she began to cry. And by the time that Mr. Ester field had succeeded in comforting her, they were engaged.
 ''i}ut-but.n faltered Alice, Il thought you were poor artist felt so sorry for you!"
 Pity is akin to love-" Mr. Esterfield responded '1 am an artist, but I am not poor Especially since you, my love, have given me tie treasure of your hearlT'